Process of ginning cotton.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

G. A. LOWRY. PROCESS of GINNING GoTToN.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23,1900.

-SHEET l.

4 SHEETS No. 821,423. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

G. A. LOWRY. PROCESS OP GINNING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED APR.Z3,1900.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

C. A. LOWRY. PROCESS OF CINNING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1900.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

G. A. LOWRY. PRGESS 0F GINNING COTTON.

APFLIOATION FILED APBHZS, 1900.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wasnmnmn. A c

`NI'IFA @FAES i ENT `GEORGE A. LOWRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO PLANTERS COMPRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION or Mams.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. resented may 22,1906.

Application led April 23, 1900. Serial No. 13,851.

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Grenen A. Lownr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cri cago,v in the `county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Process of Ginning Cotton or other Fibrous Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to process of ginning cotton or other fibrous material.

The object of the invention is to provide fan improved method of ginning cotton or similar material, whereby such materialis removed from the seeds in a most thorough, eflicienh simple, expeditious, and economical man-ner.

The invention consists, substantially, in the mode of procedure, as will `be more fully set forth hereinafter and Yfinally pointed out in the appended claims;

I have discovered that the fiber of seedcotton yand similar material may be thor oughly, efficiently, and expeditiously stripped or removed from the seeds by en` gaging said fiber with a moving mass of such resilient material maintained under pressure and restraining or preventing the seeds from movement with the mass, and I have discovered that the best results are obtained by engagingsuch fiber with a mass which moves in one vdirection and restraining the seeds from movement in the same direction, but to whichsee'ds la progressing movement is imparted in another direction, thereby causing the fiber of the cotton to be most efficiently `and thoroughly stripped from the seeds. In `this manner I am enabled to overcome the :adhesion of the fibers of the cotton or other material to its seeds and to forcibly remove the same from such seeds. The particular forni of means whereby this beneficial result is attained may vary throughout -a wide `range of different mechanical constructions. In practice, however, I have found that one form of efficient means is to cause a mass of the cotton to exert a pressure, or the expansive force thereof, against a surface, said surface `and mass being relatively moved, and to bring the seed-cotton into such relation to the relatively moving mass as to cause the fibers of such i seed-cotton to become entangled with or to be `gripped or engaged by the `relatively `moving mass, and thereby drawn or forcibly stripped from the seeds, the latter being restrained from following the stripping or drawing action exerted upon the fiber of the cotton-fas, for nistance, by effecting such drawing or stripping `action upon the fiber through a narrow slit or` opening provided in or tirough the surface Aagairst which the pressure or expansive force of the cotton or other material is exerted, and which slit or slot is sufficiently narrow to prevent the cotton-seeds from passing therethrough, and I have found that the best rosults and the most thorougli worlfare `accomplished when a travel is imparted to tlze seed material in a line intersecting'the direction of pull or drawing laction exerted upon the :liber thereof-that is, in the form of means above referred to by causing the seed -material to move or travel lengthwise of or along the slot or opening through which the liber is drawn.

It is evident that many specifically-different mechanical constructiens may be devised and adapted for use in effecting the relative movement of the mass of material and the surface against which. it exerts la pressure or expansive force. It is also evident that many specically-diflerent means may be devised and adapted for use ineffecting the movement of the seed material.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown different forms of mechanism adapted for use in carrying my invention into practical operation; but inasmuch as my present invention does not reside in the mechanism. or mechanical means or appliances employed it is to be understood that the particular forms shown are intended to `be merely illustrations of operative means for carrying out my process.

Referring to the drawings .and-to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of one form of apparatus adapted for use .in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is an en larged detail in vertical section, parts broken off, of one form of conveying apparatus for the seed material. Fig. 3 is a detail view in section on the line 3 3, Fig. Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of conveying apparatus adapted for use in carrying out my invention. Fig. 5 is -a broken detail view in top plan of the construction shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view in plan of the construction shown in Fig. 1, parts of the covering over the conveyor be IOC) IOS

ing broken away. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of a form of feed-hopper, partly in section, on the line 2 2, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a broken view, in vertical section, of another form of mechanism adapted for use in carrying out my invention.

Reference-sign A designates a Isuitable framework, in which is mounted an openended chamber or holder C, andB is a cap or head-plate for one end of such chamber or holder, said cap or head-plate being provided with one or more slots or openings I therethrough and arranged to extend in a general radial direction. The chamber or holder C is designed to contain the mass P of material which is to exert a pressure or the expansive force thereof against the inner surface of the cap or head-plate B. Relative movement may be imparted to this mass and the headplate or cap in any suitable manner. In the particular form shown a pulley D is driven from a convenient source, and through the engagement of gear E thereon with a rack F, secured to or carried by a iange projecting from or connected to the chamber or holder, said chamber or holder is rotated, the cap or head-plate being held stationary. To reduce friction, the chamber or holder may be supported upon antifriction-rollers G, as shown. It is obvious that other forms of gearing and construction for securing relative movement of the chamber or holder and the cap or headplate might readily be substituted for that shown and above described, so far as the present invention is concerned, and equally well answer the purpose in view, or the chamber or holder may be held stationary while the head-plate is rotated, or they might both be rotated, but in different directions or at different speeds. Y

The slot I should extend toward the center of the cap or head-plate and should be of such transverse area as to prevent the seeds of the cotton from passing therethrough, while permitting the cotton liber to be drawn through.

Reference-sign N designates a suitable r feed-hopper into which the material to be ginned is placed. A brace 0 may serve to steady this hopper. Within hopper N is arranged a conical deiiector N', having the base thereof extending to a point adjacent to or beyond the outer end of the slot. By this arrangement the material to be ginned when placed in thehopper will be deflected down toward the perimeter of the cap or headplate. In order to accomplish this result, bridges \T2 in the form of double-inclined sheds are provided and arranged to extend downwardly from the apex of the conical deflector and are of increasing width to the point where they join the deiiector at the lower edge of the latter.

It will be readily seen that when the mass of material in the chamber or holder is exerting a pressure or an expansive force against the under surface of the head-plate or cap such material will tend to bulge or expand upwardly into the slot and that the surface of this bulged or expanded portion forms, with the lip of the slot, a contracting throat. Now when relative movement is imparted to this mass of material and the surface against which it exerts a pressure then lthe surface of such material, which bulges or expands into permit the seeds to pass therethrough thefiber will be forcibly stripped from such seeds. In order to properly present the seed-cotton or other material to the slot, so that the fiber thereof may become entangled or engaged with the fiber of the mass of material which is exerting an expansive force or pressure on the inner surface of such head-plate or cap or so as to be efficiently gripped between the surface of that portion thereof which bulges or expands into the slot and the adjacent surface of the lip of the slot, a movement of the 'fresh material or seed-cotton along vand lengthwise of the slot should be effected. Many specifically different constructions may be devised and adapted for eHecting this movement. In Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 8 of the accompanying drawings, H designates one form of conveyer adapted for this purpose. In Figs. 4 and 5 an endless-chain conveyer H is shown. The conveyer H is in the form of a spiral plate or blade carried by a shaft, which is journaled in a bearing I2 and carries at its outer end a pinion I3, arranged to mesh with a double annular rack B, which is also engaged by a pinion I4, carried by a shaft I5, suitably journaled in the framework A and driven by a belt passing over pulleys I6 I7 from the main shaft. The double rack B may be supported in any suitable manner, as by means of rollers G upon a track carried by the main frame. By the arrangement and operation above set forth a longitudinal central opening through the mass of material P is produced, and by progressively moving the seed and seed-cotton along or lengthwise of the slot not only is the fiber efliciently and thoroughly stripped from the seed, but the seeds are finally delivered -into the central opening through the mass of material and may be delivered therefrom through a delivery opening or pipe L or otherwise'. The progressive movement of the material along or lengthwise of the slot should be so regulated ITO IZO

seines and timed that when the length of the slot has been traversed the fiber will be entirely and thoroughly Stripped from the seeds.

The desired pressure ofthe mass of material against the inner surface of the cap or head-plate in order to enable such material to exert anexpansive force against such surface may be secured in` any desirable or suitable manner-as, for instance, by means of a plunger M of a hydraulic jaclrupon` which is carried a base-or support K, which. engages the mass o1 material P.

ln the form of" conveyer shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the endless chain H is provided with projections or teetn, and said chain is mounted aboveand in proximity to the slot and eX- tends lengthwise thereof. This chain is car ried over sprockets H2, one of which may be driven by a bevel-gear H3, engaging a pinion H4 upon the inner end of the shaft which car ries the-pinion I".

Instead of having the seeds drop through the central opening through the mass of:- material said seeds may be removed by a suc tion-blast or otherwise. A form of suction means is shown and which comprises a blower and pipe R, through which the seeds may be drawn.

It is obvious that one or more slots may be employed in the head-plate, and the greater the number of slots the greater rapidity of action is secured. It is manifest, however, that the present invention is not dependent upon any specific construction or arrangement of apparatus and that the process may be carried out practically in awide variety ol.' constructions.

It is obvious that the mass of material drawn into the chamber or holder or which is added to the moving mass, as above explained and set forth, may at the same time be built up and compressed into a column of high density by the action described and in accordance with the principles set forth in my Patents Nos. 581,600 and 581,601, granted April 27, 1897, and No. 630,369, granted August 8, 1899, and from which column portions of the desired length to form commerlcial bales may be detached.

the ginned fiber, the continued relative move` ment of the ginned fiber with respect to the seed-cotton continuously producing a concatenation of Yfibers, and the continued relative movement of the abutment and the ginned ber passing the concatenation beneath the restraining-abutment, which prevents the seeds rrom following the concatenated fibers and strips ifiber from seed.

2. The method of removing fibrous mate rial from its seeds, which consists in conhning the 'fibers of such material in contact with a mass of fibers of the same sort from which the seeds have been removed maintained under pressure, and relatively moving the same and restraining the seeds irom follow ing such fibers, whereby said fiber is forcibly drawn or stripped from tne seed, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Themethod which consists in confining the fiber of the material to be ginned in contact with a resilient mass of ginnedfibers under pressure to grip or grasp such fibers, moving such mass, and restaining the seeds of the material to be ginned, whereby said; iibers `are drawn or stripped from the seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

1. The method which consists in confining the fiber of the material to be ginned in contact with a resilient mass of ginned iibers under pressure to grip or grasp such bers, then moving such mass and restraining the seeds of the material to be ginned, whereby the fiber is stripped or drawn from the seeds, and finally moving such seed material with reference to the line of draw exerted upon the ibers thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The method which consists in conning the fiber of the material to be ginned in contact with a mass of ginned fibers of the same material under pressure to grip or grasp such fiber, then moving such mass and restraining the seed of the material to be ginned, whereby the fiber is forcibly stripped or drawn from the seed, and finally removing the seed, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The method which consists in moving a resilient mass of fibers maintained under pressure, then presenting seed material to an eX- posed portion of the surface of such mass, whereby the fiber of the seed material is gripped or grasped by such mass at ,the eX- posed point, and 'finally restraining the seed from following the movement of such mass, whereby the fiber of the seed material is foreibly stripped or drawn from its seed, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The method which consists in relatively moving a mass of fibers that have been stripped of their seeds and are maintained under pressure and a surface against which such mass bears, then presenting the fibers of the seed material to be grasped or engaged between such relatively moving surfaces, whereby such iibers are gripped or engaged by said previously-stripped fibers and IOO IIO

ISO

are stripped from the seed, as and for the purpose set forth. v

8. The method which consists in relatively l moving a mass of stripped fibers maintained under pressure and a surface against which such mass bears, then presenting the fibers of seed material to be engaged or gripped between such relatively moving surfaces, whereby such fibers are gripped or engaged by such mass of fibers, and finally moving such seed material transverse to the line of draw eX- ertedupon the fibers thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The method which consists in engaging the fiber of the material to be ginned with a mass of like fibers previously ginned and held under pressure to grip or grasp such fiber, then moving such mass and restraining the seeds of the material to be ginned, whereby said fibers are drawn 0r stripped from the seeds and added to such mass and condensed and compressed into bale form, as and for the purpose set forth.

l0. The method of ginning cotton which consists in withdrawing from a mass of seedcotton a body of fibers in the form of a stream or concatenation, condensing the said stream to a continually-increasing density7 and finally passing the same through a throat from which the seeds attached to the fibers are excluded by reason of their size.

l1. The method of ginning cotton which consists in assembling seed-cotton into a mass, condensing a portion of the mass to a gradually-increasing density and at the same time drawing the vcondensed portion away from the mass, passing the same through a contracting throattoo small to permit the entrance of seeds, and at the same time subj ecting the material about to enter to asidewisemotion in a direction transverse to the line of draft of the fibers.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 10th day of April, 1900, in the pres- .ence of the subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. LOWRY.

/Vitnesses WVM. WILCOX, PEROY LITCHFIELD, 

